Media

Social media has greatly influenced the news media. Today, most traditional news media,
such as print news, are not selling as they used to before the innovation of social media
platforms. Such has contributed to reduced revenue generated by the traditional news since
people get online news which is more convenient and accessible. The internet has enhanced a
faster way of spreading news, forcing even the traditional media to have their articles posted on
social media and online platforms. The availability of social media has reduced the credibility of
journalists (Nasi, 2021. Most people claim to be journalists after producing and sharing news that
they perceive to be accurate and incredible.
Traditional Media plays a significant role in contemporary American society. One of
these roles is providing information. The basic function of Media remains to provide people with
relevant information and entertainment. Traditional Media is still the most credible news source
in the 21 st century (Nasi, 2021). Radio, magazines, newspapers, and television will be recognized
by persons of any age, especially because they have been established for decades. Traditional
media also play a role in democracy by making the masses recognize certain problems,
propagating government programs and policies, and criticizing unpopular government policies.
Social media also plays a role in contemporary American society. It can be described as a
result of the evolution of traditional media after introducing current technology. Social Media is
considered a reflection of modern American society as it shapes people’s lives. It plays a role in
informing people about current affairs and the latest fashion and gossip (Nasi, 2021). Social
media has facilitated global interaction and access to news and information essential for decision
making. It is a communication tool through which people create, share and spread information.
As it is in traditional news media, it influences an individual’s purchasing decisions through

advertising, reviews, and marketing tactics. Social Media impacts people’s ability to form and
maintain relationships in America and across the globe.
The news media have the responsibility of providing accurate information to the public.
The news media investigates stories and deliver information to a diverse audience. Therefore,
providing inaccurate information would have significant negative implications for the public. For
instance, conflicts may result from misinterpreted information coupled with poor decision-
making based on the false news provided (Nasi et al., 2021). Therefore, the media outlets should
investigate information before disseminating them to the public and misleading the mass of
people who depend on news media for information.
The social media platforms owners should be held accountable for anything posted or
happens on their platforms. The owners can control the content their users share and ensure it is
accurate and factual by moderating the user content such that they are restricted from posting
nasty things like death threats (Han & Xu, 2020). Besides, the platform owners can apply the
hands-off approach and ensure they are free from liability. Suppose they fail to protect the social
media platform and someone files a complaint. In that case, they should be responsible because
they approved the post before reviewing and determining whether it is accurate and factual.
There was a legal battle between Facebook and the government regarding the 2020 presidential
elections. A public Facebook group pushed false claims about Democrats seeking to ‘steal’ the
U.S election. The “Stop the Steal” group claimed that it called for the protection of vote
integrity. The unfounded claims spread on social media, and #StopTheSteal gained momentum
(Culliford & Satter, 2022).

Reference

Culliford, E., & Satter, R. (2022). Facebook group pushing false claims of stolen U.S. election
rapidly gains 325,000 members. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
Han, R., & Xu, J. (2020). A comparative study of the role of interpersonal communication,
traditional media and social media in pro-environmental behavior: A China-based study.
International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(6), 1883.
Näsi, M., Tanskanen, M., Kivivuori, J., Haara, P., & Reunanen, E. (2021). Crime news
consumption and fear of violence: The role of traditional media, social media, and
alternative information sources. Crime & Delinquency, 67(4), 574-600.